Receiver and center channel recommendation for RTi8s?

trj

Hi all, I just bought a pair of used RTi8s for a good price from a friend.
I plan on running a basic 2.1 or 3.1 setup since loud is not what I am going after in an apartment.

I tested the speakers with my current HTIB samsung DVD player receiver. I know, I shouldn't be doing that, but was impatient to test if all the drivers worked. Everything works but after listening for 10 minutes, I experienced listening fatigue. I know its the receiver that is incompetent because, when I tested them at my friend's place for almost 20 minutes with different sources on his old onkyo, the sound was beautiful. No fatigue or ear ache even at louder levels.

I have a yamaha Rx-V475 at my house a few states away which I plan to bring it to my apartment here after the holidays. But I am concerned if yamaha V475 will be able to drive these towers properly when I add center channel and a sub. Do you guys recommend something higher in power, like a yamaha V675 or Denon E400? Just trying to save some money if I can by using the receiver I already have. I would need relatively newer receiver, because I connect my blue ray player, xbox 360 and macbook pro to the receiver and it goes to a 1080p TV. Not opposed to buying used, but want to make sure I am buying something that I will not regret in a month because it doesn't do the speakers any justice.

Center channel question:
I know the proper center channel would be CSi3 or CSi5 for these towers but don't want to spend on them right away, since I just moved here and don't know if I will keep the set when I buy a house (soon).
I see that someone is selling CS2 for $50 and CSi30 for similar price locally. Which one of these would make match better with RTi8s?
CS2BK has 6.5" drivers and 1" woofers which looks similar to the RTi8s, but I am sure they are different apart from looks.
CSi30 has 5.5" drivers I believe but are from similar (older) line for the RTi8s.

Sub:
Probably I will use a polk audio PSW404 or may be a dayton 1200. I don't plan on waking up the neighbors in my apartment.

Please advise.
Thanks

daboyz

If timbre match is not important to you right now I'd go with the CS2. I had a Csi3 once with 8's and hated it. Too small. If you can hold out for a Csi5 then do it. I run my 8 ' s with a HK AVR254. Not optimal but does the trick.

trj

daboyz wrote: »

If timbre match is not important to you right now I'd go with the CS2. I had a Csi3 once with 8's and hated it. Too small. If you can hold out for a Csi5 then do it. I run my 8 ' s with a HK AVR254. Not optimal but does the trick.

Thanks. How much of difference would CS2 vs CSi5 make with RTi8s? I am first time polk owner and have pioneers andrew jones fs52 set matching 5.0 back home running on yamaha rx v475. So, essentially I have never heard non-timber match front stage. I am willing to wait for CSi5 but want to use something as a stop gap till I get CSi5(Will have to wait till I move to a house).

tonyb

Big difference in those centers, as the 5 will simply walk all over the 2. Not that the cs2 is bad, just that the 5 is that much better....especially for bigger rooms.

devani

Get csi5. That's all you need, no need to spend on anything else

trj

Thanks guys. I am definitely getting CSi5, but that will be after the move. Looking for a house soon as I just moved in the city.
My apartment room is small (14x20), and listening/watching position is about 7-8ft. The walls are concrete so wall mounting is not an option for neither the TV or center channel. A CSi5 would not fit on the TV stand I am using. CS2 will barely fit. Wife would not want to buy a new TV stand till we move.
I am debating between CS2 and CSi30 because I found them used locally for cheap and should fit my TV table. I plan to use whether CSi30 or CS2 as rear center when I upgrade to CSi5. I am leaning towards CS2, just because of 6.5" woofers, I am sure its the different tweeter than the RTi8s I have.
Will I notice a big difference in sound stage between RTi8s and CS2?

trj

Update: got my parent's yamaha rx-V667 and they are using my rx-v465 now. They are only using it for 2.1 so they don't need 7.2 receiver with pre outs

Although rated at 85Watts per channel, it does pretty good job in driving the RTi8's. I am loving the sound stage I have now. The receiver has full pre outs, so when I move to bigger room I can get 3 channel amp to drive the fronts in the future.

I have decided to hold out for CSi5 rather than getting an inferior center.

However, I saw someone selling CSi5 locally(not a super cheap price), but in cherry color. I know it will be very hard do a color match with the black towers, but have anyone tried it or recommend any products to do this? If it is possible to paint the cherry color CSi5 to black matching the RTi8 towers, I might pull the trigger on it.

msg

trj wrote: »

Update: got my parent's yamaha rx-V667 and they are using my rx-v465 now. They are only using it for 2.1 so they don't need 7.2 receiver with pre outs

Haha, do your parents know about this?!?

Rest of your plan sounds good. I had the CSi5 and really liked it.

Curious to hear about color change options, but depending on your tv table/stand, maybe just leave it as is? Looks black with the grill on anyway, and will probably be easier to sell left stock. Just a thought.

trj

msg wrote: »

Haha, do your parents know about this?!?

Rest of your plan sounds good. I had the CSi5 and really liked it.

Curious to hear about color change options, but depending on your tv table/stand, maybe just leave it as is? Looks black with the grill on anyway, and will probably be easier to sell left stock. Just a thought.

haha, yah they know about it. They are using it in the office, not in the main theater, so its not affecting the sound quality much. I was about to buy a new receiver but the presence of pre outs on the V667 is what made me ask them for a swap.

I have a black theme going on with black TV stand and black RTi8s. So, cherry would look really odd. If I can talk the seller to reduce the price I might go for it and try painting it but I don't know how much effort it is to paint the wood finish and if I can even find the matching paint. Reselling is less of a concern because I would like to keep the setup for a considerable time.

mrloren

where are you located? I will trade you my black one for the cherry

trj

mrloren wrote: »

where are you located? I will trade you my black one for the cherry

I haven't bought the cherry one yet. If I do buy it, then I will trade it with you if you are local. Shipping is super painful on big items, hence looking for something local.
I am in Denver, CO.

mrloren

in San Diego, I am going to Vegas soon

trj

mrloren wrote: »

in San Diego, I am going to Vegas soon

I am going to Vegas during holidays as well, but I wont be able to bring the CSi5 on flight. Luggage charge $40 each bags checked. It will cheaper to ship. If you were local I would have definitely got the cherry one and swapped with you.

trj

Just an update:
Caved in and bought a CSi3 (cherry). Cosmetically, it has a nice little bump on the edge, but for the price I paid, I am not complaining. It will fill my need of center channel till I can get a new TV stand that will fit a CSi5.